Giannini Didn`t Get Left In Cold

December 27, 1990|By JIM SARNI, Staff Writer

The Blockbuster Bowl started with a snowstorm.

Richard Giannini was at the 1988 Liberty Bowl in Mwmphis, Tenn. when it began to snow.

``I doubt the temperature got above 32 degrees the night of the game,`` Giannini said. ``I was never so cold in my life. I was sitting there with my wife, Gayle, and she was just as cold. I remember saying, `We have to get involved in a game in warm weather.` ``

Giannini thought of two possible locations for a new bowl game for his Raycom Management Group.

``Joe Robbie Stadium and San Francisco,`` he said. ``I wanted a place with good weather and an available stadium.``

Then, Giannini called Bob Kuechenberg, the former Miami Dolphin, who did some commentary for Raycom television. Giannini asked Kuechenberg what he thought about a bowl game at Joe Robbie Stadium. Kuechenberg said that was a great idea. Giannini asked Kuechenberg to approach Joe Robbie. The late Dolphins owner was enthusiastic.

The new bowl game was snowballing.

On March 3, 1989, Giannini met with Robbie and some prominent Fort Lauderdale businessmen. The bowl was launched, but Giannini had to apply for NCAA certification by April 1 to play in 1990.

``We needed 10 school who had played in a bowl game in the last three years to support our application,`` Giannini said. ``We had about two weeks to get them. It was a monumental task.``

The mission was accomplished. Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina State, Notre Dame, Southern Cal, Syracuse and Tennessee all gave their support to a bowl at Joe Robbie Stadium.

In June, Raycom held a news conference to announce the Sunshine Football Classic. Tow months later, Giannini met with the NCAA Bowl Committee to discuss his application. Last April, Giannini made his formal presentation, complete with the required $1.5 million letter of credit.

America had another bowl. But not just any bowl. ``Our aim was not to be the 19th bowl,`` Giannini said. ``We wanted to create the ultimate bowl game.

Blockbuster Video gave the game the final clout it needed -- plus a new explosive name. The inaugural Blockbuster Bowl will pay each team $1.6 million, the sixth highest payout.